Tesla’s Cybercab starts carrying passengers in Austin

A taxi with no steering wheel is now taking passengers around parts of Austin, Texas.

Tesla’s Cybercab has joined its Robotaxi service, moving a vehicle designed specifically for autonomous travel into public use. The electric two-seater has butterfly doors and a touchscreen; passengers request and start journeys through an app. Tesla says allocation depends on availability, so booking a Robotaxi doesn’t guarantee a Cybercab.

The promise is transport that gives passengers their journey time back and eventually costs less to provide. Not Boring reported 45 Cybercabs in the Texas fleet at launch: a tangible start, with much still to prove about costs and performance at scale.

The design also shows why accessibility needs attention from the beginning. Tesla lists seats at wheelchair-transfer height and room to store mobility aids, but these still require users to transfer into a seat. Children under 13 cannot ride.

Public journeys are an important step beyond demonstrations. Whether Cybercab becomes a broadly useful transport service will depend on reliable operation, affordable fares and who can actually use it.